Hey everyone I'm just getting into photography and I own a Nikon d3100 and mainly photograph around the Big Swamp Area. I'm wondering what lens to buy as in 55mm to 200mm or some thing along those lines and would like to ask what do you guys use to get the amazing shots you do thanks
I reckon you are going to need a 300mm or more likely 400mm at least if you are mainly taking birds. What you can afford would be the main factor, lenses are expensive. Just look around on the internet for reviews of 400's and then search ebay for a second hand one or a cheaper deal.
As the Nikon D3100 is an APS-C camera (it has a smaller sensor), you could probably manage with a 300mm lens.
There is also a good range of 3rd party lenses available- Sigma, Tamron, Tokina, etc.
The only one I have experience with is Sigma, and if you wanted extra range, their 50-500mm and 150-500mm lenses are good choices. But, as with everything photographic, they're a compromise.
Knowing your budget and preferences would be helpful too, as there are many options out there to suite differing needs.
The nikon 70-300 vr is a good walk around lens if you can get close enough, its sharp and the AF is much faster than either the nikon 80-400 or sigma 150-500 for a lot less money.
My favorite set up on my D7000 is a sigma 300f4 with a 1.4 T/C both of witch I purchased on Ebay for a fraction of the new price.
As Lachlan stated there are so many options depending on your budget and needs, A friend uses a Tamron 70-300 he got on Ebay for $60 and is happy with it ,but I find the AF hunting back and forth infuriating !
300mm even on an APS-C camera is way too short, unless the birds come within say 10 meters of you for larger and less for smaller birds.
400mm would be the minimum, though a 300/4 Nikon with a Nikon 1.4x converter making it a 420mm lens will give you some nice opportunities, because with your camera the field of view becomes 420x1.5 or 630mm equivalent.
I suggest you stay with Nikon brand, most third party lenses are nowhere near good enough in my opinion. Though the Sigma 150-500mm zoom appears to do OK across the board. My friend Birdie on this forum uses it.
The Nikon 80-400mm zoom is too slow to acquire focus. I would stay away from that lens. The 70-300 too short as I mentioned.
I use a very big, heavy super tele, but most people tend to say "I wish I could afford that", where in fact many probably can, but they just don't want to spend thousands of bucks.